Torso rotation/core trainer

ABSTRACT

A torso rotation total core trainer in the form of a handle attachment is designed to cause the user to perform a shoulder movement during resistance training, as opposed to pulling with the hands and arms. The handle has a center shaft with a pair of hand grips and a pair of cuffs positioned on opposite sides of the center shaft. The cuffs are preferably held by the user&#39;s elbows when he or she grips the hand grips. The distance between the cuffs and the hand grips is preferably adjustable to accommodate different sized people (e.g., men, women and children). A connector, such as an eye loop, is positioned at or near the end of the center shaft, and is connectable with a resistance element such as a weight stack, bungie cord, elastic tubing, etc. By gripping the hand grips and holding the handle in position using the elbows, the person is effectively prevented from pulling the resistance using only his or her hands and arms. Rather, he or she must move his or her shoulders when performing the exercise, thus causing proper torso rotation and training of the core muscle groups. The handle also allows the user to correctly isolate trunk extension, trunk flexion, and trunk lateral flexion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/565,873, the complete contents of which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to handle devices used in resistance based exercise training and, more particularly, to a handle device which permits the proper training of muscle groups utilized in core conditioning-torso rotation.

2. Background Description

Only recently has it been recognized that training a person's core muscle groups would be of significant benefit to performing complex movements in sports such as the golf swing, tennis serves and ground strokes, the bat swing, etc. While exercises such as stationary twisting, or executing wood chop high-to-low and low-to-high motions, with, for example, a medicine ball or a handle connected to a weight stack assembly or a source of resistance such as an elastic member connected to ground or a wall, are designed to exercise the core muscles, it is possible for the person to “cheat” with these devices. That is, the person may find easier to simply pull with his or her hands and arms across his or her chest, rather than twisting or crunching using his or her trunk. Alternatively, the person may find it easier to turn his or her hips instead of his or her shoulders. For example, many people grab simple exercise handles currently in use, attach them to elastic tubing or cables attached to weight stacks and start to twist right to left and left to right, as well as in angular twisting motions in one or more directions, believing that they are training the core group or performing trunk/torso rotation. However, what usually is happening is that the person is pulling their arms across their body with very little shoulder turn, and this is not trunk rotation. Such “cheating”, whether intentional or unintentional, does not provide much benefit to the person, and may result injury (or simply frustration due to poor results). What is needed is a tool that effectively requires the user to perform the exercises properly in order to be used; thereby eliminating “cheating”, and allowing the user to benefit from performing an exercise regimen properly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary object of the invention is to provide a user with handle device that is used with a resistance mechanism, such as a weight stack machine or an elastic resistance element (e.g., bungie or tubing) secured to ground or a wall, where the handle device must be held in a fashion that causes the user to rotate his or her shoulders when executing movements against the resistance.

According to the invention, a suitable handle device includes a center shaft with a connector at or near one end for connection to the resistance mechanism. The handle device will have a pair of hand grips on opposite sides of the center shaft, and a pair of cuffs on opposite sides of the center shaft. Preferably, the distance between the hand grips and the cuffs can be varied in order to accommodate different sized users. In operation, the user holds the hand grips of the handle device and uses his or her elbows to hold the cuffs by maintaining constant pinching pressure. In this way, the user forms a triangle (two shoulders where and the apex is where the hands come together at the end near the connection point) with his or her hands effectively “still” in front of the chest, thereby requiring the user to turn the shoulders against the resistance. When the person turns the shoulders only, leaving the hands still in front of the body or fixed against the body or “staying connected with the body as one unit”, this causes all of the core group rotation muscles to be used, which are the muscles called upon to rotate the body around the spine (torque and core group).

If the user is twisting from right to left or left to right, or if they are twisting in an angular motion from high to low or low to high, the handle device of this invention causes the shoulder and torso to be what turns (i.e., pulling of the hands and arms is effectively prevented since the user's elbows are to be held firm against the cuffs while the hand grips are held). The handle device is secured to any form of resistance, and allows the user to perform shoulder rotation and torso rotation, without “cheating” or performing the movement using the non-intended muscle groups (caused by pulling the arms across the chest or up and down if doing angular rotation). The handle device of this invention not only exercises the intended core muscle group in a rotation fashion, but it also allows the user to correctly isolate trunk extension (bending back), trunk flexion (crunch movement when shoulders are moved correctly towards the hips with the hips contracting the abs), and it also isolates trunk lateral flexion (e.g., side bends holding hands over head, with bending from straight up then left and then right).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, aspects and advantages will be better understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a handle device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the handle device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of an alternative resistance connector configuration for use with a handle device of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a person holding an example of the handle device of the present invention; and

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b are top view of the person shown in FIG. 4 showing rotation of the person's shoulders during core training.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The handle device of this invention can be hooked up to any form of resistance (e.g., weight stack, rubber tubing, spring, bungee cord, etc.), and, when used, the person is ensured to be using the trunk muscles in an isolated fashion, either sitting, standing or laying on the ground. While many pieces of professional and home gym equipment with functional cables show pictures of people twisting and leaning for demonstrating core exercises, it should be understood that none of these pieces of equipment force the person to use the muscle groups they are intending or trying to use. Often, the body takes the path of least resistance or uses the strongest muscle group, and this is especially so in twisting movements. The handle device of this invention, when used correctly, will overcome this problem and assure focused exercising of the trunk muscles for strengthening or rehabilitation.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown an example of a handle device according to the present invention which includes a center shaft 10, with a pair of hand grips 12 a and 12 b and a pair of cuffs 14 a and 14 b located on opposite sides of the center shaft 10. A connector 16 is preferably positioned at or near one end of the center shaft 12. The connector 16 can take the form of an eye hole (as shown) or a hook or any other form which will allow the handle device to be connected to a resistance device such as a cable of a weight stack, a spring element anchored to a floor or wall, an elastic tubing or bungee cord device anchored to a floor or wall, or a pole or a fence, etc.

The hand grips 12 a and 12 b can be separate devices (as shown), or constitute the gripping surface of a common element connecting 12 a and 12 b (not shown). The hand grips 12 a and 12 b can be a simple barrel or cylindrical shape as shown, or be more elaborate and be part of a rest or other device. The hand grips 12 a and 12 b function so as to be held by the user's hands with the palms facing each other. In the preferred embodiment, the hand grips 12 a and 12 b will be sized to allow the user to put his or her thumbs on top of the grips during the exercise; however, the sizing can vary to fit the needs of the user or the manufacturer. The hand grips can be made of steel, wood, plastic, or other suitable materials and will preferably be connected to the center shaft 10 by spacers 18 a and 18 b made of the same or different materials. However, in the case of the hand grips being on a common element, fewer than two spacers are employed. As shown by double headed arrow 20, it is preferable that each of the hand grips, separately or together, are rotatable in a plane parallel to the center shaft 10. When the hand grips 12 and 12 b are freely rotatable, the user is more effectively forced to hold the device correctly by squeezing the elbows together at all times, thus enabling the correct stretching and resistance/exercises motions to be performed. To better accommodate different sized users, the spacers 18 a and 18 b may be adjustable so as to space the hand grips 12 a and 12 b relatively further away or closer to the center shaft 10. In operation, it is desirable to have the users palms close together and close to the center shaft 10.

The cuffs 14 a and 14 b can take of variety of forms and could be flat surfaces, curved members to fit the user's elbows, or even be material which encircles the user's arms at or near the elbow. However, it is most preferred to have the user tightly press his or her elbows against the cuffs 14 a and 14 b throughout the entire movement on his or her own accord. This assures that the user's hands are held “still” in position in front of his or her chest. If the elbows are not pressed tightly against the cuffs 14 a and 14 b, then the center shaft 10 will move out of position (this is particularly accentuated if the hand grips 12 a and 12 b can rotate relative to the center shaft). Thus, in order for the user to perform the exercise correctly, he or she must hold the device correctly, and, once the device is held correctly, it will assure the user that the exercises are being performed correctly so as to isolate and exercise the trunk muscles during rotational movements and bending movements. Similar to the hand grips 12 a and 12 b, the cuffs 14 a and 14 b are secured to the center shaft by cuff width bars 22 a and 22 b which may or may not adjust the spacing between the cuffs 14 a/14 b and center shaft 10, as is indicated by double headed arrow 24. This allows the device to be comfortably fitted to and be used by a variety of different users of different sizes and shapes. Ideally, the cuffs 14 a and 14 b could be set at a variety of different angles, or could swivel or rotate in a plane parallel to the center shaft as indicated by double headed arrow 26, or could otherwise be movable so as to allow more comfortable engagement with the user's elbow region or upper arm (above the elbow) region (preferably, the cuffs 14 a and 14 b are contacted by the user's elbows or at positions slightly above or below the elbows). While FIG. 1 shows the cuffs 14 a and 14 b positioned at the end of the center shaft 10, it should be understood that in some embodiments, the center shaft 10 could pass beyond the cuffs 14 a and 14 b.

As is best shown in FIG. 2, in the preferred embodiment, the distance between the hand grips, 12 b by example, and the cuffs, 14 by example, can be varied to fit the needs of different sized users. For example, adults and children, and, generally, males and females have different sized forearms and arm lengths. Further, smaller and larger adults have different sized forearms and arm lengths. By permitting either or both the cuffs 14 a and 14 b or hand grips 12 a and 12 b to be positioned at different locations on the center shaft 10, the needs of these different sized users can be easily accommodated. Alternatively, the center shaft 10 itself may be of a telescoping or other expandable and contractible design so as to regulate the spacing between the cuffs 14 a and 14 b and hand grips 12 a and 12 b. FIG. 2 shows ports 28 along the length of the shaft between the cuffs 14 a and 14 b and the hand grips 12 a and 12 b which may be used for selectively controlling the distance between the cuffs and hand grips. In one example, the spacers 18 a and 18 b would be insertable into different ports 28. In another example, the center shaft 10 would be of a telescoping design, and the ports 28 would have a selectively lockable arrangement with a button (not shown) that fits into a port when the distance is set to the desired spacing.

While FIGS. 1 and 2 show a variety of adjustments can be made to the handle device of the present invention in the preferred embodiments, it should be understood that in the practice of the invention a gymnasium, rehab training room, or health club might prefer to stock several different sized handle devices with fixed components (e.g., non-rotatable, no ability to lengthen, etc.). Such devices would fall within the practice of this invention, and have the advantage that less moving parts may result in a more rugged and durable design of the invention. Further, FIG. 1 shows that an optional guard 29 might be placed adjacent the connector 16. The guard 29 would be used to keep the cable, bungie, spring, or elastic tubing away from the user's hands during the stretching exercises.

FIG. 3 highlights that the connector 16 might be positioned above or below the user's hands and elbows. This positioning of the connector would also help keep the cable, bungie, spring, or elastic tubing away from the user's hands during the stretching exercises.

FIG. 4 illustrates the triangular arrangement of the person's shoulders 30 and arms 32 desired for the exercises according to the present invention. The handle device is gripped at the hand grips 12 a and 12 b, with the user's elbows contacting the cuffs 14 a and 14 b. In this position, the user exerts pressure against the cuffs 14 a and 14 b using his or her elbows and the hand grips remain fixed in position. Without proper holding of the handle device of this invention, the center shaft 10 would fall from the elbows while the user holds the hand grips, and proper stretching or resistance exercises would not result. However, as is illustrated by FIG. 4 in combination with FIGS. 4 a and 4 b, when the user grips the handle device and exerts pressure with his or her elbows, he or she is forced to maintain the handles 12 a and 12 b directly in front of his or her chest during rotation right to left or left to right. That is, the user is required to rotate about his or her trunk with his or her shoulders 30 turning and his or head 34 maintained generally straight (but the head 34 can still go with the movement). While discussed in more detail below in the Example section, the handle device also allows for chopping movements from low to high and high to low, up and down movements, movements which require rotation of the center shaft about its axis, etc.

EXAMPLE

The function for the handle device of this invention is to force or ensure that the user keeps their arms in a fixed position while performing the exercise, as well as their hands. The hands are fixed directly in front of the chest (straight out, no elbow bend) or over the head. With the thumbs up and palms facing each other. If the users arms are straight out in front of the chest, with the palms together and the hands held in a straight line in front of the chest, at the center of the chest, a triangle will be formed, with the apex at the center of the chest. This is the proper position in the rotation drill, and the hands and arms never move from the triangle or related position. Having the shoulders turn while the triangle stays the same (hands together in front of the center chest with arms fully extended), is the most sought after torso or torque movement. Usually, with prior art handle devices (standard resistance handle), the person trying to grab a handle with both hands will not maintain the triangle or hands fixed in front of the chest, throughout the entire movement and then the incorrect or not intended muscle groups are trained, instead of the core/ torso rotation muscles.

With the present invention, when the user starts to rotate or bend the shoulders, the hands must stay in the same spot in relation to directly in front of the chest or directly over the head and the arms straight out, parallel or perpendicular to the floor. When the shoulders continue to rotate, the hands also rotate, but are still fixed in the same center chest (straight out) position. The problem this avoids is the same mistake everyone makes and that is moving the hands across the chest and the shoulders may not be moving as fast or as far. The hands moving independently of the shoulders causes the problem and must be avoided to isolate all of the muscles called upon to rotate around the spine.

The invention is designed with arm cuffs that are adjustable by width and or other points of relocation/adjustments/swivels/and anything else that would provide for a more custom/form fit, when the elbows are pinched together during use. The cuffs are placed a desired distance apart (either adjustable or manufactured fixed) and there is an extension pole or rod/bar/sleeve, fixed on/above/below/or the center of the cross bar (center shaft 10) that joins the two elbow cuffs (cuff width bars 22 a and 22 b can be used to selectively set the distance between the center shaft 10 and the cuffs 14 a and 14 b). The extension rod (center shaft 10) that is connected between the arm (elbow) cuffs, protrudes straight out, with at least one handle for both hands to meet palm to palm (thumbs to the sky) or two handles side by side so that each hand has it's own grip. Either design that is chosen, the elbows are squeezing together putting pressure on the elbow cuffs 14 a and 14 b, the arms are extended straight out in front of the body with the hands facing palms together and thumbs up position . . . the hands are holding one grip or they are both using the same grip (in the case of a common handle with two gripping regions). A bar, preferably which is part of the center shaft 10, extends slightly beyond the handgrip or grips and at the end is a connector 16, such as an eye loop or another connection mechanism, so the resistance cord or cable can be clipped or attached to the handle device of this invention.

The arm or elbow cuffs can be fixed at a certain distance or they can pivot or swivel, so that the cuffs can be angled inward, so that where the elbows meet (pressure against the cuffs) at the center line of the chest (imaginary line drawn from the solar plexus or sternum, straight out, parallel to the ground, all the way to where the hands would come together if the arms where locked and the hands met palm to palm at the end of the line), it will be a comfortable fit with nothing digging into either elbow or arm. The arms should be allowed to be completely straightened out, with the cuffs touching at the inside of each elbow and the hands meeting at the center line for rotation (over head for flexion and extension) palms together, thumbs up, in the proper alignment.

The width of the cuffs can be fixed or adjustable inward or out farther, to allow for the many different body shapes and sizes, arm lengths and sizes, as well as the different shoulder widths, which will have an impact on the distance between the elbows, when the arms are locked straight out and the hands are together at the center line (farthest point from the chest, parallel to the ground).

The rod or extension pole or sleeve that extends from the center of the arm cuff distance shaft (bar between each arm cuff and holds them together and in place, also known as the cuff width bar 18 a and 18 b), should be strong. This extension pole can be adjustable to take into consideration the length of the users arms. The users elbows must be pinched together by squeezing inward on the cuffs and then the hands must grab a handle or two grips, with the arms straight out fully extended. The position of the hands will be determined by the length of the arm and the length of the cuff to grip position. The invention can be made in different fixed sizes or one or more adjustments to address cuff distance, comfort, and proper hand positioning and comfort.

The hand rests or grips can be fixed or they can spin, twist, turn end over end or any other movement. This could allow the grips 12 a and 12 b to make the user apply all of the pressure and hold unit in place with inside elbow pressure, which is the object of the exercise. This helps to ensure that the torso-shoulder rotation or trunk-flexion exention is doing all of the work and not the arms pulling across the chest or down to the ground, avoiding pulling separate from the torso. If the pressure is taken off of the arm cuffs 14 a and 14 b, the cuffs will drop or slip out and the handles 12 a and 12 b could stay in the hands. The hand grips 12 a and 12 b would allow the cuffs 14 a and 14 b to drop easier if the hand grips 12 a and 12 b have many different angles of movement or directions of movement. The hands should not pull at all during the exercise; rather, they are resting there and the torso should be moving across, or angularly up or down, while rotating or flexing/extending.

The user's inside arm pressure combined with the hands remaining directly in a straight line from the center of the chest, with the arms fully extended and hands facing each other with thumbs up and holding on to the handle, will ensure that when the user twists the torso around or flex/extends the trunk, the shoulders will move and the core muscles will be called upon to perform that task. This is called isolating a particular muscle group and that is the main purpose of this invention and it will allow for the hips to turn if requested, which means a muscle combination performance is capable as well. If the hands are straight over top of the head and the elbow pressure is still applied, and then trunk flexion is performed (bending over at the waist), proper muscular isolation and contraction will also occur. This movement also works muscles that make up the core group and allow for trunk conditioning. Also, if the hands are in the straight up position and the user starts in a bent over position and then slowly bends or stands back up, this is called trunk extension and the extension muscles will be isolated.

With the hands over the head and the user standing straight up with the handle device of this invention hooked up still to the resistance cable, the user then bends left, slowly straightens up and then bends right and slowly straightens back up, these movements are called lateral flexion and they would be performed correctly, using resistance, which builds strength and endurance in the torso or trunk or core group. All trunk movements are caused to be performed properly and isolated through the use of the handle device of this invention. This is an inexpensive alternative to using expensive rehab or commercial gym equipment or by mimicking the movements by holding a handle device with both hands and going through movements that resemble the same movements, but call upon the wrong muscle groups or not nearly enough of the right muscle groups.

Instead of the attachment point being located near the handgrips slightly in front or even above or below, the function is still the same. The elbows pinch together on the cuffs and the hands are fixed in a straight out palms together at the center in from the chest or overhead. The eye loops or attachment points can also be located sticking off of the side of the handles, at the end of a bar or rod, or even at the end of an arched or bent bar or band, but the twisting motion again is still the same. The function is to keep hands fixed at the center line in a triangle shape (shoulder to shoulder is a line, then shoulder to hands are the other two lines and the hands meeting in the middle are the apex of the triangle), then only the shoulders turn or the shoulders bend forward or back or lateral bends, but the hands and arms never change from the fixed position in relation to the distance from the body (either elbows above the head barely touching the head or elbows straight out in front of the chest, but locked in all positions, caused by the cuffs slipping if the pressure is taken off of them). The adjustments allow the unit to have one or more bars that can be attached to the cable and then if the user wants to twist to the left, the bar or guide would be sticking out to the right and connected to the cable. The twisting to the left would then make it so the cable would be off of the user. The same would hold true to the twisting to the right . . . the bar could be moved to the left or if the unit has two fixed bars or one fixed bar and the unit is completely turned over and then grabbed with both hands, it will work the same. Having different positions of the attachment eye loops or attachment point does not change the utility function.

The elbow cuffs 14 a and 14 b with a width bar 22 a or 22 b for allowing the hard and continuous squeezing of the elbows and then a bar (center shaft 10) sticking straight out so that there is a hand grip (a grip, a rest, or a combination of a grip and a rest, or a handle with grips as part of the handle(see 12 a and 12 b in FIG. 1)), with an attachment point near the hands (connector 16), allowing the unit to be attached to a resistance form, are important features for allowing the practice of the invention. As long as the cuffs have pressure by both elbows or there about, and the hands are together palms almost touching and the arms are completely locked with the hands in a straight line in front of the body (which is the only way the invention will allow the user to utilize it), then the user is guaranteed perfect rotation and core training.

While the invention has been described in terms of its preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

1. A handle for torso rotation/core training exercises, comprising: a center shaft; a connector for connecting with a resistance device positioned at or adjacent a first end of said center shaft; a pair of hand grips positioned on opposite sides of said center shaft at a first location spaced away from said connector; and a pair of cuffs positioned on opposite sides of said center shaft at a second location spaced away from said connector.
 2. The handle of claim 1 wherein a distance between said first location and said second location is selectively variable.
 3. The handle of claim 1 wherein said pair of cuffs are connected to said center shaft by an adjustable mechanism which permits variations in spacing of said pair of cuffs selectable distances away from said center shaft.
 4. The handle of claim 1 wherein each of said pair of cuffs is rotatable or movable in a plane parallel to said center shaft.
 5. The handle of claim 1 wherein said pair of cuffs are positioned at or adjacent to a second end of said center shaft.
 6. The handle of claim 1 wherein said pair of hand grips are connected to said center shaft by an adjustable mechanism which permits variations in spacing of said pair of hand grips selectable distances away from said center shaft.
 7. The handle of claim 1 wherein said connector is an eye ring.
 8. The handle of claim 1 further comprising a protective guard positioned on said handle adjacent said connector.
 9. The handle of claim 1 wherein said connector is positioned in a plane above or below a plane which includes said center shaft, said pair of hand grips, and said pair of cuffs.
 10. The handle of claim 1 wherein said pair of hand grips are part of a single common handle piece wherein said pair of hand grips form the hand gripping portion of said single common handle piece.
 11. The handle of claim 1 wherein each of said pair of hand grips is rotatable or moveable in a plane parallel to said center shaft.
 12. The handle of claim 1 wherein the connector is connected to one or both of the pair of hand grips.
 13. The handle of claim 1 wherein the connector is connected to the center shaft.
 14. The handle of claim 1 further comprising a pair of adjustable cuff width bars for adjusting the spacing between said center shaft and each of said pair of cuffs. 